Abstract
Pectin is an anionic, water-soluble polymer predominantly consisting of covalently 1,4-linked α-d-galacturonic acid units. This naturally occurring, renewable and biodegradable polymer is underutilized in polymer science due to its insolubility in organic solvents, which renders conventional polymerization methods impractical. To circumvent this problem, cerium-initiated radical polymerization was utilized to graft methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (mPEGMA) onto pectin in water. The copolymers were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and used in the formation of supramolecular hydrogels through the addition of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) to induce crosslinking. These hydrogels possessed thixotropic properties; shear-thinning to liquid upon agitation but settling into gels at rest. In contrast to most of the other hydrogels produced through the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-grafted polymers, the pectin-PEGMA/α-CD hydrogels were unaffected by temperature changes.
Highlights
Pectins are complex carbohydrates derived from dicotyledonous and some monocotyledonous plants [1]
WePolymers have2016, an interest in grafting pectin with synthetic polymers to improve its processability in organicpresence solventsofand to impart biocompatibility and biodegradability to the resulting copolymer for use divalent metal cations such as calcium over a broad range of pH and the gels are formed in biomedical applications
P-10K(0.005 M, based on the final volume of solution) was Ammonium (IV) sulfate dihydrate added into aAmmonium pectin solution w/v in water)
Summary
Pectins are complex carbohydrates derived from dicotyledonous and some monocotyledonous plants [1]. WePolymers have2016, an interest in grafting pectin with synthetic polymers to improve its processability in organicpresence solventsofand to impart biocompatibility and biodegradability to the resulting copolymer for use divalent metal cations such as calcium over a broad range of pH and the gels are formed in biomedical applications. First its reported supramolecular organic solvents to impartα-cyclodextrin biocompatibility toroids and biodegradability resulting copolymer for hydrogel formed by and threading onto PEG to ofthe high molecular weight. PEG-graft forms physical points via the aggregation of the inclusion methods require organic solvents, making cross-linking it a challenge to graft pectin with synthetic polymers. Ammonium cerium (IV) sulfate dihydrate, apple pectin and sodium nitrate were purchased from
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